Gokokuji Temple, Naha

Gokoku-ji Temple, translated as “Protection of the Nation Temple”, is a serene Buddhist sanctuary with a legacy stretching back to 1367. Founded by the monk Raijū under the patronage of the Chūzan royal government, it served as a spiritual complement to the nearby Naminoue Shrine and remained a central place of worship throughout the Ryūkyū Kingdom era. As one of the oldest temples in Okinawa, it offers a quiet counterpoint to the highly visited coastal shrines nearby.

Although modest in appearance compared to grand Japanese temples, its distinctive red-tiled roof and simple, earthy architecture provide a contemplative sanctuary amid the bustle of Naha. The temple is affiliated with the Koyasan Shingon sect and enshrines the Bodhisattva of Compassion, a key deity in Japanese Buddhism.

During the mid‑19th century, the temple became famously entangled with foreign events when British missionary Bernard Jean Bettelheim occupied the temple for seven years, displacing local monks and worshippers. He later served as intermediary to Commodore Matthew Perry when Perry’s fleet arrived in Okinawa. In a gesture of diplomacy, a temple bell dating from 1456 was gifted to the United States Navy Academy and only returned to Japan in 1987.

Today visitors can explore the temple’s peaceful grounds, including the main prayer hall, memorial monuments, and quiet corners often draped with ceremonial baby bibs and scarves-a local custom seeking blessings for child health and safety.